WAVERLY, Iowa — The Wartburg College volleyball team closed out the Wartburg Invite with a pair of 3-0 sweeps Saturday, defeating Wheaton College (Ill.) and Bethany Lutheran College at Levick Arena. The Knights improve to 5-5 overall following the two victories.
Wartburg opened the day with a 25-19, 25-23, 25-18 victory over Wheaton before completing the sweep with a 25-13, 25-20, 25-22 win against Bethany Lutheran.
GAME ONE | Wartburg 3, Wheaton 0
Wartburg overcame an early 2-1 deficit in the opening set against Wheaton before taking control behind a kill from
Keely Kauten. The Knights continued to build momentum throughout the set, earning a 25-19 victory.
The second set featured a pivotal 8-0 Wartburg run that turned an 11-9 deficit into a 17-11 advantage. Wheaton mounted a late comeback, but the Knights held on to claim the set, 25-23, with Kauten delivering the final kill.
Wartburg carried its momentum into the third set, using kills from Koudelka and Maassen to maintain control before closing out the match with a 25-18 victory.
Maassen led the Knights with nine kills and added two block assists, while Sash recorded eight kills, two service aces and five total blocks while hitting .316. Kauten added seven kills on a .353 hitting percentage.
Alexa Buhman directed the Wartburg offense with 28 assists and contributed 10 digs and one service ace.
GAME TWO | Wartburg 3, Bethany Lutheran 0
The Knights carried their momentum into the afternoon, jumping out to a 4-0 lead against Bethany Lutheran behind Buhman's serve. Buhman recorded two aces during the opening run as Wartburg established control early and went on to take the first set, 25-13.
Wartburg again jumped out to an early advantage in the second set, building a 6-0 lead. The Vikings battled back to even the score at 12-12, but the Knights responded down the stretch to secure a 25-20 victory.
Bethany Lutheran grabbed an early lead in the third set, but Wartburg answered with key plays from
Ashlynn Hodges and
Aspen Falk to regain control. The Knights closed out the match, 25-22, on a kill from Koudelka.
Sash led the Knights with 10 kills, six service aces and three solo blocks while posting a .444 hitting percentage. Her six aces marked a career high.
Buhman added 29 assists, three service aces and seven digs, while Koudelka contributed eight kills on a .313 hitting percentage.
UP NEXT
Wartburg returns to action at the Loras Invite in Dubuque, Iowa, Friday, Sept. 18. The Knights open tournament play against Macalester College at 5 p.m.
